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The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines education as “the knowledge and development resulting from the process of being educated.” In Danielle Allen’s article, What is Education For?, she covers two main arguments about the current education system/paradigm.

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Allen first highlights the importance of STEM and vocational education, stating that it is essential for preparing individuals for the modern workforce and to compete in the global economy. Allen states that this dominant policy paradigm addresses the vocational education goal, which is “to ensure that young people, and society generally, can compete in a global economy” (Allen 9).

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Sets Individuals up for Economic Success

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Sets Individuals up for Economic Success

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According to Allen, “the goal [of STEM education] is to ensure that young people, and society generally, can compete in a global economy.” This is due to the growing demand in STEM fields and the overall direction that innovation and society is headed. Allen states that the idea of STEM education is that it will set young individuals up for economic success.

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Reduces Technological and STEM Innequalities

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Reduces Technological and STEM Innequalities

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Allen highlights the importance of STEM education by focusing on the inequalities in a technology-dependent society that it addresses, “focuses on the dissemination of skills as a way to reduce inequality in a technology-dependent economy” (Allen 9). For example, inequalities that are formed through the lack of vocational education are combatted through a general increase in STEM education.

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Allen highlights the importance of Civic education/education in social sciences, stating that an increase in this education is correlated to developing democratic engagement and civic agency, which in turn leads to more political equality.

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What is Civic Agency and Participatory Readiness

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What is Civic Agency and Participatory Readiness

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According to Allen, through civic education in schools, civic agency can be achieved. Essentially, civic agency is a society in which individuals are civic agents. Civic agents actively carry out three main tasks: “disinterested deliberation, prophetic frameshifting, and fair fighting." These tasks are respectively defined as the ability to fairly make decisions from an unbiased perspective, working to shift a society’s values, and using a respectful/structured approach to resolving conflicts. These tasks are all crucial to student's abilities to make decisions in today's democracy.

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“Participatory readiness” refers to individuals being prepared to participate in civic life by having the necessary skills and understanding. This is an extremely important aspect of today's democracy and has lost its hold in schools. Through the participatory model, schools would put a renewed focus on the humanities and social sciences.

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Leads to Political Engagement and Civic Agency

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Leads to Political Engagement and Civic Agency

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According to a 2006 paper cited by Allen, Civic Education leads to democratic engagement, “[Civic] Education, they argue, fosters participation because it prepares people for democratic engagement" (Allen). As stated, in a society with civic agency and participatory readiness, political engagement will increase drastically. This increase in engagement will be very beneficial for the current political democracy that is in effect and therefore will benefit US citizens with their desires.

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Why both concepts are important in moderation

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Why both concepts are important in moderation

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With the general growth of STEM and vocational fields, vocational education holds great importance. On the other hand, however, the importance of civic education cannot be understated, as it is crucial for the development of civic agency and participatory readiness in society, as well as general political engagement in young individuals. Overall, a balanced education in both STEM fields and social sciences/civic education is most beneficial for young individuals and for the future of American society.